DHARAMSHALA: Candidates, who have recently contested assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh , have come under scanner of the income tax department after they declared their wealth in crores in their poll affidavits. As many as 337 candidates contested the assembly polls and the tax department has issued summons to some of the candidates.Additional commissioner (income tax) at Palampur division NR Kapoor confirmed to TOI that action had been initiated and a report would be compiled within six months. "We can't divulge the number of summons issued, but there are many. The investigation wing of the income tax department is looking after the issue. The candidates have been issued summons under the IT Act" he added.Further inquires revealed that the department has asked the candidates to submit their IT returns of the last five years and the income, including expenditure details. It was learnt that action had been initiated by the director general (investigations) of the department. Hundreds of candidates had disclosed their wealth above Rs 10 crore.Hailing the decision of the department, residents said that it was for the first time that such action was initiated against politicians as earlier nobody bothered about multiplication of the wealth of politicians.Official sources revealed that the department would assess tax deposited by the candidates in the last five years. Their statements of income and expenditure would also be compared. It is possible that department will share this information with the enforcement directorate, if required. There are many senior leaders, including ministers, former ministers and businessmen contesting as independent candidates, who have received IT summons, said sources. The summons were sent to the election offices in every constituency and officials were told to personally receive summons, they added.

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